Adsoption of two vaccine-related proteins to montmorillonite and organo-montmorillonite

Abstract Adsorption of proteins to clay minerals is widely studied, mostly in agricultural issues, due to its importance in soil. The poultry industry experiences an increasing need for new generations of effective vaccines, requiring minimal handling of bird during administration. Among the problems of vaccination with genetically engineered vaccines is low immunogenicity. Therefore, the development of effective adjuvants for vaccination is a central task. In addition, oral administration of vaccines is more convenient and economic for the poultry industry. The modified heat-labile eteroxin (LT) protein was found to be a safe and immunogenic adjuvant, and showed the ability to enhance immune responses against an antigen co-administered with, for example—the viral protein 2 (VP2). As a model of a possible combination for an oral administrated vaccine, adsorption of VP2 and LT on SWy-2 montmorillonite and on an organo-montmorillonite (berberine adsorbed on SWy-2) were tested. Results of this multidisciplinary study, which combines methods used in clay mineral studies with biological assays, prove feasibility to attach two vaccine-related proteins to organoclay mineral particles, yielding close vicinity between the proteins that may lead to an immune response via the monosialoganglioside (GM1) receptor. Such complexes may be used as vaccine carriers to stimulate desired immune responses.